Detection of nitrogen and oxygen in a galaxy at the end of reionization

Abstract

We present observations of [NII] 205 $\mu$m, [OIII] 88 $\mu$m and dust emission in a strongly-lensed, submillimeter galaxy (SMG) at $z=6.0$, G09.83808, with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Both [NII] and [OIII] line emissions are detected at $>12\sigma$ in the 0.8$"$-resolution maps. Lens modeling indicates that the spatial distribution of the dust continuum emission is well characterized by a compact disk with an effective radius of 0.64$\pm$0.02 kpc and a high infrared surface brightness of ${\Sigma }_{\mathrm{IR}}=(1.8\pm 0.3)\times 10^{12}{L}_{\odot }$ kpc${}^{-2}$. This result supports that G09.83808 is the progenitors of compact quiescent galaxies at $z\sim 4$, where the majority of its stars are expected to be formed through a strong and short burst of star formation. G09.83808 and other lensed SMGs show a decreasing trend of the [NII] line to infrared luminosity ratio with increasing continuum flux density ratio between 63 $\mu$m and 158 $\mu$m, as seen in local luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs). The decreasing trend can be reproduced by photoionization models with increasing ionization parameters. Furthermore, by combining the [NII]/[OIII] luminosity ratio with far-infrared continuum flux density ratio in G09.83808, we infer that the gas phase metallicity is already $Z\approx 0.5-0.7Z_{\odot }$. G09.83808 is likely one of the earliest galaxies that has been chemically enriched at the end of reionization.

8 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ

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• Central concentration of warm and dense molecular gas in a strongly lensed submillimeter galaxy at z=6
• The [NII] 205 $\mu$m line emission from high-z SMGs and QSOs
• A theoretical investigation of far-infrared fine structure lines at $z>6$ and of the origin of the [OIII]88/[CII]158 enhancement
• Bright beacons? ALMA non-detection of a supposedly bright [OI] 63-um line in a redshift-6 dusty galaxy
• Uncovering the absorbed atomic Universe with the [OI]63um line